Between Ruin And Resolve My Ex-Husband's Regret novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26 The Tense Atmosphere

Under the impression that Kyla would be Noah’s future bride, Platt had no problem conspiring with her to humiliate Sadie. If Platt got this wrong, the fallout would be brutal–he’d be as good as dead.

As these thoughts churned through his mind, Platt rose, his face breaking into an ingratiating smile aimed at Noah.

“Please, forgive my earlier oversight in welcoming you properly,” he said, his voice carrying deference.

Instantly, the room buzzed to life as everyone stood, shuffling chairs and clearing the way to honor their guest. They left the chair of honor and its adjacent seat conspicuously vacant.

Noah watched the orchestrated commotion silently, his expression unreadable. Only after the last murmurs had settled did he gracefully claim the chair reserved for him.

Kyla, poised to take the seat beside him, paused mid–step as Noah, in a surprising move, gestured for Sadie to sit next to him instead.

The room filled with whispered speculations and stolen glances towards Kyla, whose plans seemed to unravel before her eyes.

“Kyla, what’s the deal with Miss Hudson? Why is Mr. Wall acting like she’s someone important?” A woman, dressed in eye–catching, over–the–top clothing, covered her mouth with a delicate hand, her voice a syrupy blend of curiosity and scorn.

A man joined the conversation, skepticism lacing his tone. “Miss Wade, weren’t you just telling us how Mr. Wall…”

Kyla inhaled sharply, quelling the storm within her. She put on a forced smile and replied, “Mr. Wall has always been exceptionally attentive to every member of his staff. With Sadie drunk, he’s obviously going to ensure she receives the care she needs.”

“Oh, is that so?”

The crowd murmured, their disbelief thinly veiled by nodding heads, their expressions etched with doubt.

But wasn’t this care unusually personal?

It was clear to anyone observing that there was something more to it.

And Noah–known for his indifference towards romantic entanglements and his cutthroat decisiveness–since when did he exhibit such warmth and concern for a woman?

Yet, no one dared to call out Kyla’s bluff.

With her facade intact, Kyla moved to another seat, sitting ramrod straight, all the while aware of the curious glances thrown her way, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Her hands clenched into fists under the table, nails digging painfully into her flesh, yet she remained outwardly composed, oblivious to the physical discomfort her own body inflicted.

The spacious private room was engulfed in a stifling silence. Everyone present was on edge, scarcely daring to draw a deep breath for fear that even the slightest noise might provoke the formidable man seated at the chair of honor.

Noah’s piercing eyes swept across the room, and wherever his steely gaze landed, it seemed to exert an invisible, crushing weight. People instinctively lowered their heads, shunning his scrutiny as if the mere act of meeting his eyes could spell disaster.

His gaze, sharp and discerning, seemed to slice through the tense atmosphere, sending a chill skittering across everyone’s skin.

Just as the room’s anxiety was teetering on the brink of unbearable, Noah broke the silence. His voice was calm, almost disinterested, as his thin lips parted slightly to deliver two simple words: “Mr. Crawford.”

Despite the casual delivery, those words landed with the explosive force of a thunderclap, echoing ominously in the tense air.

At the mention of his name, Platt felt an icy dread snake down his spine, his back slick with a cold sweat.